A message from the Gisborne Foodbank as we wrap up 2024

Food insecurity continues to be a worldwide problem to which Australia and least of all Gisborne and the Macedon Ranges are not immune to. The reasons that people experience food insecurity are many and varied but the result is that financial pressures create difficult choices where the ability to purchase adequate food supplies suffer.

Foodbanks play a significant role in giving relief to those experiencing food insecurity. Gisborne Foodbank has been providing food assistance to many families within the local community for the last five and half years. This year we have seen wonderful support from the Gisborne and Macedon Ranges Community in providing both food and monetary donations to enable
the Gisborne Foodbank to keep operating.

The Gisborne Men’s Shed continues to support us each year with building and raffling a splendid cubby house and this year has been no exception. A splendid result was achieved. Thanks to the Shed Men.

The school donation drives have again been extremely successful this year with all the local schools being enthusiastically involved in collecting goods to help run the Foodbank. Thank you so much to all the school communities. All the students can be immensely proud of their efforts.

The Gisborne Community Care Foodbank would not exist and operate without its volunteers who continue to give their time each week to make the organization the success it is. You are all an incredible team of people. This year we have established a book swap cupboard which has proved most popular.

The Gisborne Foodbank would have difficulty operating without the continued support of the Gisborne Uniting Church, who kindly donate precious facilities for us to operate from.

So, to all those who have enabled the Gisborne Community Care Foodbank the immense success it has been in the wider Gisborne Community for 2024, I thank you. With the wonderful support of the local community we will continue in 2025 to be able to help those in the region that are having difficulty making ends meet.

Please have a safe and Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Gisborne Foodbank will close from 20 December 2024 and re-open 15 January 2025.

Wally Van Dort
President Gisborne Community Care Foodbank